Automatic safety control and change-over



July 2, 1940. E. SKLAR AUTOMATIC SAFETY CONTROL AND CHANGE-OVER Original Filed Jan. 17

, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ummunl auuuuuu mmmmm u In vnkon Ecfiauuummnnnunnu u mum mun July 2, 1940. SKLAR 4 2,206,371

AUTQHATIC SAFETY CONTROL AND CHANGE-OVER Oi'iginal Filed Jan. 17, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 2, 1940. E. SKLAR 2,206,371

wrouurc SAFETY CONTROL AND CHANGE-OVER Original Filed Jan. 17, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 w. wt

E. SKLAR Original Filed Jan. 17, 1931 July 2, 1940.

wrouurc SAFETY CONTROL AND CHANGE-OVER C 86 l a 98 July 2, 1940. E. SKLAR 2,206,371

AUTOMATIC SAFETY CONTROL AND CHANGE-OVER Original Filed Jan. 17, 1931 5 Shoots-Sheet 5 Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES "ATENT OFFIQE;

AUTOMATIC SAFETY CONTROL AND CHANGE-OVER 509,387, January 17,

1931. This application December 28, 1938, Serial No. 248,094

Claims.

This application is a refile of application Serial No. 509,387 filed on January 17, 1931.

This invention relates to automatic safety con- .trol and change-over devices for motion picture machines and has for its object the provision the film away from the aperture with sufficient speed. This can be caused by a total stoppage of the intermittent sprocket or a. slowing down of the sprocket. In either case it results in the exposure of a particular segment of the film to the heat of the lamp for a period sufiicient to ignite the same.

Failure of the machine as a unit to move the film or move it with sufiicient speed. This will also result in the exposure of a particular segment of the film to the heat of the lamp for a time suificient to ignite the same.

4. Failure of the lower take up. This results in the film bulging or buckling upward and getting into the path of the light from the lamp. This also results in a particular segment of the film being exposed to the heat of the lamp for a time sufiicient to ignite the same.

This invention has as its object the provision of means for shielding the film from the light of the lamp immediately upon the occurrences of any one of the above mentioned conditions which result in the ignition of the film.

Another object of this invention is to provide a battery of motion picture machines having my fire preventing attachments with automatic change-over means whereby change can be made from one machine to the other, as is required by the present practice in the art of projection,

with safety and absolute freedom from danger of ignition of the film for any of the causes hereinabove listed.

Another object of this invention is to prevent the occurrence of a white screen.

These as well as other objects of this invention and the advantages arising therefrom will become more apparent from the following description and the drawings which form a part hereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front View showing my aperture closing device attached to the front plate of the motion picture machine.

Figure 2 is a front view showing my aperture closing device detached from the machine.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the disclosure in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of the shutter of my aperture closing device shown in Figure 1. The raised position of the device being shown in full lines and the lowered position being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is a side view showing my douser and governor control therefor positioned in the machine.

Figure 6 is a top view of the disclosure of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a schematic electric wiring diagram showing the wiring arrangement for the automatic change-over feature of my device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference numerals denote similar parts, reference numeral i denotes the aperture plate of a motion picture machine. (In the illustration herein disclosed, my invention is shown as attached to a Simplex motion picture machine. It is to be understood, of course, that my invention may be used with any other type of motion picture machine, making the slight changes necessary to adapt it for attachment to and use with the said different types of motion picture machines.) Reference numeral 2 denotes a motion picture film running over the intermittent sprocket 4 and the take-up sprocket 5 and in front of the aperture 6 formed in the aperture plate l. The aperture plate I has a cooling plate "i attached thereto. The film 2 has the usual lower loop 3 formed therein. These features are all old in the art and in and of themselves do not constitute a part of my invention and for that reason will not here be further described.

Attached to the face of the cooling plate 1 is my automatic aperture closing device 8. The automatic aperture closing device 8 is composed of a T shaped bearing member 9 composed of the elements 19, and 21. The element I!) has the apertures Hi formed therein whereby the aperture closing device may be attached to the: cooling plate 1 by means ofscrews or their equivalents. Attached to the member H! by means of screws l2 are the pivot plates ll. Pivoted in the pivot plates l is the shutter [3 having the shank; arms l5 and 5 which serve as shafts for the shutter l3. The shank arm [5 terminates in the handle member I! and the shank arm l6 terminates in the lug l8.

Pivotally mounted at 23 in the member 2| is the lower loop film actuated lever 22. The lower part of the lever 22 is bent at 25 to form the member 21. The member 21 carries the contact plate 28 which has a guide groove 29 formed therein in which is received the edge of the lower loop film element 3. The upper member 26 of the lever 22 has a lug 3i formed thereon. Attached to the member 26 is a spring 30 which normally pulls the lug 3i against the end B l of the lever 32 which is pivoted at 33. The lever 32 has formed thereon 2. lug $36 on which the lug I8 is adapted to rest when the shutter l3 is in the open position. Attached to the lever 32 is a spring 44 which normally tends to pul1 the lever 32 towards the lug l8 and hold the lug 86 in its operative position. The lever 32 terminates in an arm which contacts with a lug 38 formed on the lever 38 pivoted at 37. The lever 36 has an arm 39 formed thereon. Carried by the arm 39 is the film contacting plate All.

The plate 40 has a film. contacting groove M formed therein which contacts with the portion 42 of the film. The respective strength of the springs 35!, 43 and 44 is such that the pull of either spring 30 or 43 is stronger than the pull of spring 44.

Referring more particularly to Figures 5 and 6, reference numeral 46 denotes a lamp house as a unit having a lamp or light source i! and the usual cone 48 through which light is projected through the aperture t in the plate I upon the film which runs between the aperture plate I and the pressure plate 49. This particular portion of the mechanism is old in the art and does not, in and of itself, form a part of my invention alone and apart from the combination as shown and for that reason will not be here further described.

Mounted upon the cone 48 is a magnet 5E3, composed of a solenoid 5i and a plunger 52. The magnet is of the well known construction, with such changes in base as may be necessary to properly mount the same in position, as shown in Figure 5. Since magnets of this type per se are old in the art and the magnet in and of itself does not constitute a part of this invention, the same will not be here further described.

The plunger 52 of the magnet 5% has a guide pin 53 attached thereto which contacts with the arm 55 of a lever 54 pivoted at 55. The lever 54 has an arm 5? formed thereon which contacts with the arm 58 which is attached to the douser 59. The arm 58 is pivoted at the point fill.

Mounted in the body of the motion picture projecting machine is a governor 68 which is composed of a revolving member 69 fixedly mounted upon a shaft '52. The revolving member 69 carries the movable shoes lll which are normally actuated inwardly by the springs ll. Loosely mounted on the shaft E2 is a casing 715 which carries an arm M adapted to contact with and throw the switch l5. The arm 14 of the casing 13 is normally kept out of contact with the switch l5 by the spring 76.

That portion of the governor mechanism 68, composed of the elements 69, H3, ll, 12, and 13, in and of itself is old in the art, does not constitute a part of my invention alone and apart from the combination as shown, and for that reason will not be here further described. The governor mechanism 66 is driven directly by the film which contacts with a sprocket 6| mounted on the member 89 carried by the base 90 of the motion picture projecting machine. Attached to the sprocket 6! is a gear 65 which drives the governor 68 through the idler gear 66 and the gear 67! fixedly attached to the shaft 12.

Figure 7 shows schematically a battery of two machines equipped with my combined automatic safety controls and automatic change-over. The wiring and circuits necessary to produce this combination is schematically shown. This combination constitutes one of the essential features of my invention.

Although the operation of the above device is believed to be obvious from the above disclosure, nevertheless for the purpose of obviating any possible misunderstanding, the following detailed description is here given.

Let it be assumed that we start with both machines in the inoperative position. The operator threads the projector A in the usual manner.

In this position, the proper edge of the lower loop film element 3 contacts with the groove 29 of the contact plate 28 and the proper edge of the upper portion 5?. of the film contacts with the groove ll formed in the plate 45!. The pressure of the loop portion 3 causes the arm 22 to be forced. outwardly against the pressure of the spring til. The tension of the film portion 42 against the plate ll) causes the arm 36 to be pushed outwardly against the tension of the spring 43. This relieves the arms 32 and 35 from all. pressure except that of the spring 44 which pulls the arm 32 inwardly, causing the end of the lug Elli to press against the lug l8 carried by the shank l6 of the shutter l3. The shutter .13 is raised by means of the arm ll with the result that the spring 94 pulls the arm over to the position where the lug 86 is in a position to support the lug I8 and thus hold the shutter l3 in its raised position.

In the event of a break in the film in the vicinity of the aperture it but above the sprocket 5, the operation of the motion picture machine will result in the pulling away of the lower portion of the film. This results in a breaking of contact between the film loop 3 and the plate 28 carried by the arm 22 since there is no film present at the point and relieves the pressure which had been exerted by the spring 39 with the result that the spring 30 pulls the arm 26 outwardly, causing the arm 22 to rotate inwardly. In the outward motion of the arm 26 the 111g 3! pushes against the end 34 with the result that the lever 32 is pushed outwardly around its pivot 33. The pull of the spring 30 is stronger and thus overcomes the pull of the spring fi l. Outward motion of the lever 32 results in the breaking of contact between the lug 86 and the lug it. The removal of the suport of the lug it results in the fall of the shutter l3 into its lowered position (shown by the dot and dash lines in Figure 1 and by the full lines in Figure 2). The shutter l3 in its lowered position covers the aperture 6 and prevents any light from the lamp from striking the end of the film which has been left in the aperture.

Breaking of the film at the point 8'! on the far side of the roller it (see Figure 3) results in the breaking of the contact between the film 42 and the plate 4!). This removes the pressure against the spring The spring 43 now exerts a pull on the lever 36 which results in the said lever 36 being urged inwardly. In the in motion of the said lever, the lug 33 contacts with the arm 35 and pushes the same inwardly around its pivot 33 against the pull of the spring 44. This action results in the inward motion of the arm 35 around the pivot 33 and in the outward motion of the lever 32. The outward motion of the lever 32 results in the breaking of the contact between the lugs and i8 and in a dropping of the shutter l3.

A failure of the sprocket 85 to feed the loop 88 results in the upper loop 88 assuming the position shown in Figure 3. This results in a breaking of the contact between the plate 40 and the film 42 and in the dropping of the shutter i3.

A break in the film at any point between the sprocket 85 and the roller 45 will result in a breaking of the contact between the plate 49 and the film when the dropping of the shutter l3, as hereinabove outlined, occurs.

In the event that the sprocket holes in the film which contact with the sprocket 4 are ripped the sprocket 4 will not feed the film towards the sprocket 5, the loop 3 will therefore be eliminated, the film assuming the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3. This results in the breaking of the contact between the plate 28 and the film 3 with the resultant dropping of the shutter 53 through the functioning of the mechanism as hereinabove outlined.

To start the projector A after it has been threaded, it is only necessary to light the lamp 4'! in the usual manner and then depress the three circuit contact switch 1'! to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 7. This breaks the contact at 92 and makes contact at El and 55. Contact at 9| results in the closing of the circuit D which controls the motor 85 of the projector A. This results in the actuation of the projector mechanism. As the motor develops speed it communicates the same to the projector mechanism which in turn communicates it through the film, the sprocket 5!, the gears 55, and 6'? to the governor 68. A point is quickly reached wherein the speed of the governor S8 is such that centrifugal force causes the shoes 10 to fiy outwardly against the force of the springs I l. The shoes 10 when extended sufficiently contact with the inner surface of the member 13 loosely mounted on the shaft 12. The shoes 75 frictionally engage the member 13 and carry it in the direction of rotation of the governor 58 shown by the arrows in Figure 5. This causes the arm 14 to contact with and throw the self return switch 15 to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5 and 7. Since the key 11 is in the position wherein contact is made at 93, throwing of the self return switch 15 results in the closing of the electromagnet circuit C of the projector A. The closing of the circuit C results in the energization of the electromagnet 50. The energized magnet now pulls the plunger 52 inwardly causing the plunger to perform the following two functions:

(a) The key '19 is depressed to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 7, thus breaking the contact at 58 and making contact at 96 and at 91. This results in the maintenance of the closed circuit C and in the further maintenance of the motor circuit D. The key 11 may now be released and the circuits C and D will remain closed through the contacts at and 91.

(b) As the plunger moves inwardly the contact guide 53 contacts with the arm 55 of the lever 54 and causes the lever 54 to rotate around its pivot 55 and assume the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5. Rotation of the lever 55 causes the arm 51 to contact with the lever 58 forcing the lever to rotate around its pivot 60 and assume the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5. Rotation of the lever 58 raises the douser 59 and permits the light from the lamp to fall upon the film aperture plate I'. If all has gone well with the film, the shutter [3 carried by the plate I will be in the raised position and the subject matter on the film will be projected on the screen. If, however, a break had occurred in the film, the shutter l3 will be in the lowered position thus preventing the occurrence of a white screen and also the ignition of the film.

A break of the film at any time at a point between the sprocket 85 and the take-up sprocket 5 will result in the consecutive functioning of the shutter l3 and of the douser 59. The first result of a break in the film at a point between the sprocket 85 and the sprocket 5 will be the dropping of the shutter l3 through the functioning of the shutter control elements as hereinabove fully set forth. The takeup reel 64 continues to function in spite of the break in the film and a time is soon reached when the free end of the broken film passes the sprocket 6|, thus breaking contact between the sprocket SI and the film. Since the film, which is the direct driving driving element of the gear Bl, no longer contacts with it, the gear ceases to rotate. This results in the stoppage of the revolution of the governor. The springs H of the governor 58 pull the shoes 10 inwardly breaking the frictional contact between the shoes 10 and the member 13. The spring 16 now pulls the member 13 to its neutral position breaking the contact between the arm 14 and the self opening switch 15. The switch 15, having been relieved of the closing pressure exerted by the arm 4, opens breaking the circuit C. This causes the electromagnet 55 to become de-energized. The weight of gravity causes the douser 55 to fall and assume the position shown by the full lines in Figure 5, cutting off the light from the lamp 4?. In its downward movement, the douser 59 causes the lever 58 to rotate inwardly and assiune the position shown by the full lines in Figure 5. The lever 58 in its inward movement contacts with the arm 51 of the lever 54 causing the lever 54 to rotate around its pivot 55 and assume the position shown by the full linesin Figure 5. The rotation of the lever 54 causes the arm 5'6 oi the lever 54 to contact with the guide and contact member 53 of the plung-' er 52 pulling the plunger outwardly and causing it to assume the position shown by the full lines in Figure 5. This relieves the pressure on the key 19 causing it to assume the position shown by the full lines in Figure '7. This breaks the contacts at 96 and at 9'! thus making it impossible for the projector to start again until the key H is again pressed by the operator.

Of course, the operator would not press the key until the break in the film or whatever was the source of trouble is fixed. If he did press the key '11 before the break is repaired, the douser would not be lifted, since the governor 58 would not be driven by the film since there would not be any film in contact with the gear GI and therefore the governor 68 would not function to close the necessary circuits.

A break in the film at any point between the sprocket 5 and the sprocket 6! will result in a break of the contact between the sprocket 6| and the film which in turn results in a stopping of the governor E8, the demagnetization of the electromagnet 50, the drop of the douser 59, the

breaking of the motor circuit D and the stopping of the motor.

A break in the film between the sprocket 6| and the take-up reel 64 will result in a material i slowing down, if not in the full stoppage, of the film driven sprocket 6|, either of which will result in a slowing down of the governor 68 to a point wherein its component elements will operate to relieve the pressure on the self opening switch which will result in the demagnetization of the electromagnet 56, the dropping of the douser 59, and the stopping of the motor 80 as hereinabove described.

Let it now be assumed that the key H has been depressed, that everything has gone well, that the projector A is functioning and that the end of the reel is being reached. Let it be assumed further that the operator, acting in accordance with the usual practice, has threaded projector B, that the lamp has been lit, and that the projector is ready for operation. We are now ready for the change-over.

To make the change-over, the operator waits until the proper cue is reached and then presses the key 718. This breaks the contact at 84 and makes the contacts at 94 and 95. Making of the contact at 94 closes the circuit E and throws the motor Bl of the projector B into operation. As the motor picks up speed, this speed is im parted to the film operating parts of the projector which, of course, in turn operate the film at a higher speed. The film operates the sprocket 6| on the projector B which in turn causes the operation of the governor 58 on the projector B. When the motor reaches a certain speed, the speed imparted by it to the film controlled governor becomes such that it results in the gripping of the member 73 by the shoes 79 and in the closing of the self opening switch '65 by the arm '54 in the manner hereinabove more specifically set forth. Closing of the switch 75 results in the closing of the circuit F and the energization of the magnet 50 of the projector B. This results in the inward movement of the plunger 52 of the projector B. Inward movement of the plunger 52 results in the raising of the douser 59 of the projector B and in the assumption by the key 82 of the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 7.

The assumption by the key 82 of the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 7 results in the breaking of the contact at 83 and in the making of contact at 99 and at I08. This results in the falling of the douser plate 59 of projector A and. in the making of certain circuits in projector B, all as hereinafter more specifically forth. The falling of the. douser plate 59 results in the stopping of the motor 89 of projector A, as hereinafter more specifically set forth.

Stopping of the motor 80 Breaking of the contact at 83 results in the opening of circuit C. Opening of circuit C results in the demagnetization of the electromagnet 50 of the projector A. This results in the falling of the douser 59 of the projector A and in the assumption by the plunger 52 of the projector A of the position shown by the full lines in Figure 5. The assumption. by the plunger 52 of the projector A of the position shown by the full lines in Figure 5 results in the removal of pressure on the key 79 and in the return of the said key to the position shown by the full lines in Figure 7. This results in the breaking of the contact at 9?. Breaking of the contact at 91 breaks the motor circuit D and causes the motor 80 of the projector A to stop, thus stopping the projector.

Making of parallel circuits in projector B Making of the contact at 99 results in the closing of the circuit F through the contact 99 as well as through the contact 95. Making of the contact at Mt results in the closing of the circuit E through the contact at Hill as well as the contact at 94. The change-over is now complete and the operator may now remove his finger from the key 78, permitting it to assume the position shown by the full lines in Figure 7. This breaks the contact at 95 and 94 and makes the contact at 8 Breaking of the contact at 96 and 95 has no effect on projector B since both the motor circuit E and the electromagnet circuit F remained closed through the contacts I 00 and 99 respectively.

It is to be understood that the reels of films are provided with the number of dead sections, or sections without any photography, necessary to permit the film to run the period of time necessary to operate the control elements hereinabove set forth. It is to be further understood that the reels of films are provided with the proper cues upon which the operator presses the proper change-over button.

From the above description, it is seen that if the speed of the motor or the film in the projector falls below a certain point, the governor 68 will function so as to cause the douser 59 to drop, thus cutting off the light of the lamp 4'! from the film and thus preventing fire which would otherwise occur as a result of a certain section of the film being exposed to the light for too long a period of time.

The above disclosure is to be understood as being by the way of illustration and not by the way of limitation since many changes may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of my invention. For this reason, it is my desire that the claims which are hereunto appended for the purpose of defining my invention be limited only by the prior art.

Definition-The term motion picture machine, as used in the specification and claims, is used to denote the machine unit consisting of the lamp, the lamp house, the upper and lower maga zines and the headincluding all of the actuating mechanism.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and useful is:

1. In combination with a motion picture machine having a light source and a film aperture plate having a film aperture formed therein and positioned for receiving a beam of light emanating from said light source, a film controlled shutter carried by said aperture plate for closing said aperture, and a film controlled douser positioned between said light source and said aperture for cutting on: from said film aperture said beam of light, said film controlled shutter consisting of a bearing member carried by said aperture plate, a shutter pivotally mounted in said bearing member, an upper film contacting arm pivotally mounted in said bearing member, a lower film loop contacting arm pivotally mounted in said bearing member, a lever pivotally mounted in said bearing member and positioned for operative contact with each of said film contacting arms, said lever having a shutter supporting lug formed thereon, and means operatively connected to each of said contacting arms for normally causing each Eliof said contacting arms to urge said lever in a direction removing said lug from said shutter; said douser consisting of an electromagnet, a plate positioned for being raised by said electromagnet when said electromagnet is energized and for falling to a position wherein it will cut off the said light beam from said aperture when said electromagnet is de-energized and a normally open circuit including a current source for supplying electrical energy to said electromagnet, means for closing said circuit and a film controlled governor for operating said circuit closing means.

2. In the combination of a motion picture machine having a light source and a film aperture plate having a film aperture formed therein and positioned for receiving a beam of light emanating from said light source, a film controlled shutter carried by said aperture plate for closing said aperture, and a film controlled douser positioned between said light source and said aperture for cutting off said beam of light from said aperture; said film controlled shutter consisting of a bearing member carried by said plate, a shutter pivotally mounted in said plate, an upper film contacting arm pivotally mounted in said plate, a lower film loop contacting arm pivotally mounted in said plate, a lever pivotally mounted in said plate in position for operative contact with said film contacting arms, said lever having a shutter supporting lug formed therein, resilient means attached to said lever and positioned so as to normally urge said shutter supporting lug to its shutter supporting position, and resilient means attached to each of said film contacting arms and positioned so as to normally cause said film contacting arms to urge said lever to the position wherein said shutter supporting lug is out of contact with said shutter, the force exerted by eacn of said film contacting arm resilient actuating means being stronger than said lever resilient actuating means, said film controlled douser consisting of an electromagnet, a plate positioned for being raised by said electromagnet when said electromagnet is energized and for falling to a position wherein it will cut off said light beam from said aperture when said electromagnet'is de-energized and a normally open circuit including a current source for supplying electrical energy to said electromagnet, means for closing said circuit, and a film controlled governor for operating said circuit closing means.

3. In combination with a motion picture machine having a light source and a film aperture plate having an aperture formed therein and positioned for permitting the passage of a beam of light emanating from said light source a film controlled means for closing said aperture, said means consisting of a bearing member, a shutter movably mounted insaid bearing member, shutter supporting means movably mounted in said bearing member, an upper film contacting arm and a lower film loop contacting arm each positioned for actuating said shutter supporting means, and means attached to each of said arms for normally causing each of said arms to contact with said shutter supporting means and urge said shutter supporting means to assume a position wherein said shutter supporting means does not support said shutter.

4. In combination with a motion picture machine having a light source and a film aperture plate having an aperture formed therein and positioned for permitting the passage of a beam of light emanating from said light source film controlled means for closing said aperture, said means consisting of a bearing member carried by said plate, a shutter covering said aperture pivotally mounted on said bearing member, a lever pivotally mounted on said bearing member, said lever having a shutter supporting lug formed thereon, means attached to said lever for urging said lever to assume the position where said lug supports said shutter, an upper film contacting arm pivotally mounted in said bearing member and positioned for operative contact with said lever, a lower film loop contacting arm mounted in said bearing member and positioned for operative contact with said lever, and means attached to each of said arms for normally causing each of said arms to contact with said lever and urge said lever to assume the position wherein said lug does not support said shutter.

5. In combination with a motion picture machine having a light source, a film aperture plate having a film aperture formed therein and positioned for receiving a beam of light emanating from said light source and a film mounted for movement past said aperture, said film having an upper portionan-d a lower loop, film controlled means for covering the said aperture said means consisting of a bearing member, a shutter pivotally mounted on. said bearing member and positioned for covering said aperture in its lowered position, a lever pivotally carried by the said bearing member, said leverrhaving a shutter supporting lug formed thereon, a spring attached to said lever and positioned for actuating said lever to the position wherein'said lug supports said shutter, an upper film portion contacting arm pivotally mounted in said bearing member,

and a lower film loop contacting arm mounted in said bearing member, each of said film contacting arms being positioned for operative contact with said lever, and each of said arms having attached thereto a spring, each of said springs being positioned for actuating its respective arm in a direction so as to contact with and urge said lever to assume the position wherein said lug does not support said shutter, the force exerted byeach of said arm actuating springs being stronger than the said lever actuating spring.

6. In combination with a motion picture machine having a light source, a film aperture plate having a film aperture formed therein said film aperture being positioned for receiving a beam of light emanating from said light source and a film mounted for movement past said aperture film controlled means positioned between said light source and said aperture for shutting off from said aperture a beam of light emanating from said light course, said means consisting of an electromagnet, a normally open circuit including a source of current for energizing said electromagnet when said circuit is closed, a selfopening switch for closing said circuit, a governor carried by said machine, an arm carried by said governor said arm being positioned so as to contact with and close said self-opening switch when said governor is in its active phase, a train of gears the teeth of the first of which are positioned for contact with and actuation by the sprocket hole edges of said film and the last of which is positioned for contact with and actuating said governor, and a douser plate actuated by said electromagnet, said douser plate being positioned so as to cut off said beam of light when in its lowered position and not to interfere with said beam of light when in its raised position.

'7. In combination with a motion picture machine having a light source, a film aperture plate having a film aperture formed therein, said film aperture being positioned for receiving a beam of light emanating from said light source and a film mounted for movement past said aperture film controlled means positioned between said light source and said aperture for shutting off from said aperture a beam of light emanating from said light source, said means consisting of an electromagnet, a plunger positioned for being actuated by said electromagnet when said electromagnet is energized, a pivotally mounted lever positioned for being actuated by said plunger, a pivotally mounted arm positioned for being actuated by said lever, a douser plate carried by said arm and positioned so as not to obstruct said beam of light when in its raised position and so as to cut ofi said beam of light when in its lowered position, a normally open electric circuit including a source of power for energizing said electromagnet when said circuit is closed, a self opening switch for closing said circuit, a governor consisting of a rotary member, shoes movably carried by said rotary member, springs attached to said shoes and positioned so as to oppose the outward motion of said shoes, an annular member loosely mounted on said rotary member and positioned for frictional gripping engagement with and actuation by said shoes when said governor is in its active phase, an arm carried by said annular member and positioned for operative contact with and the closing of said switch when said governor is in its active phase, and a spring attached to said annular member and positioned so as to oppose any motion of said annular member, and a train of gears operatively connected to said film at its power input end and for being driven by said film and operatively connected at its power output end to said rotary member of said governor for driving said rotary member.

8. In combination with a pair of motion picture machines arranged as a battery for consecutive use, each of said motion picture machines having as a component part thereof a light source, an aperture plate having an aperture formed therein and positioned for receiving a beam of light emanating from said light source, and a film mounted for movement past said aperture plate, means for automatically causing the operation of one of said machines. and the discontinuance of the operation of the other of said machines, said means consisting of a normally open electric circuit arranged to selectively control either of said machines, said electric circuit being connected to a source of power; said electric circuit being divided into two normally open branchesone for each of said machines; each of said branches being sub-divided into a normally open motor sub-circuit for controlling a motor positioned for driving the machine in its branch, a normally open governor controlled electro-magnetic douser sub-circuit for controlling an electro-magnetic douser positioned in said machine for cutting off said beamof light when in its lowered position and so as not to interfere with said beam of light when in its raised position, said governor being driven by said. film, said governor controlled sub-circuit having a governor controlled selfopening switch for closing the same, and two parallel sub-circuits one being in parallel with said motor sub-circuit and the other being in parallel with said governor controlled electro-magnetic douser sub-circuit; a manually controlled three circuit switch for controlling each of said branches, each said manually controlled switch being positioned for closing the electro-magnetic douser sub-circuit of the other branch when said manually operated switch is in the raised position and for closing both the motor sub-circuit and the governor controlled, electro-magnetic douser sub-circuit of its own branch when. said manually operated switch is in the depressed position; said electro-magnetic douser operated switch being positioned for closing the governor controlled electro-magnetic douser sub-circuit of the other branch when said douser operated switch is in the raised position, and for closing both the motor and the electro-magnetic douser sub-circuits in its own branch, when said douser operated switch is in the depressed position.

9. In combination with a motion picture machine having a light source anda film aperture plate having an aperture formed therein and positioned for permitting the passage of a beam of light emanating from said light source a film controlled means for closing said aperture, said means consisting of a bearing member, a shutter movably mounted in said bearing member, shutter supporting means movably mounted in said bearing member, an upper film contacting arm and a lower film loop contacting arm each positioned for actuating said supporting means, means attached to each of said arms for normally causing each of said arms to contact with said shutter supporting means and urge said shutter supporting means to assume a position wherein said shutter supporting means does not support said shutter, means positioned between said aperture and said light source for cutting off said beam of light from said aperture, and a film controlled governor for controlling said means.

10. In combination with a motion picture machine having a light source and a film aperture plate having a film aperture formed therein and positionedfor permitting the passage of a beam of light emanating from said light source film controlled means for closing said aperture, said means consisting of a bearing member carried by said plate, a shutter covering said aperture movably mounted on said bearing member, a lever having a shutter supporting lug formed thereon movably mounted on said bearing member, means attached to said lever for urging said lever to assume the position where said lug supports said shutter, an upper film contacting arm movably mounted in said bearing member and positioned for operative contact with said lever, a lower film loop contacting arm mounted in said bearing member and positioned for operative contact with said lever, and means attached to each of said arms for normally causing each of said arms to contact with said lever and urge said lever to assume the position wherein said lug does not support said shutter.

EZRA SKLAR. 

